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United States Patent | 6,075,805 |
Cook ,   et al. | June 13, 2000 |
The linewidth of a distributed feedback semiconductor laser or a distributed Bragg reflector laser having one or more second order gratings is reduced by using an external cavity to couple the vertical emission back into the laser. This method and device prevent disturbance of the main laser beam, provide unobstructed access to laser emission for the formation of the external cavity, and do not require a very narrow heat sink. Any distributed Bragg reflector semiconductor laser or distributed feedback semiconductor laser that can produce a vertical emission through the epitaxial material and through a window in the top metallization can be used. The external cavity can be formed with an optical fiber or with a lens and a mirror or grating.
Inventors: | Cook; Anthony L. (Hampton, VA); Hendricks; Herbert D. (Poquoson, VA) |
Assignee: | The United States of American as represented by the Administrator of the (Washington, DC) |
Appl. No.: | 179731 |
Filed: | October 27, 1998 |
Current U.S. Class: | 372/96; 29/36; 372/32; 372/36; 372/102 |
Intern'l Class: | H01S 003/08; H01S 003/13; H01S 003/04 |
Field of Search: | 372/29,32,36,50,92,96,102 369/112 |
5111467 | May., 1992 | Bradley | 372/32. |
5381395 | Jan., 1995 | Okada | 369/112. |
Foreign Patent Documents | |||
3-135088 | Jun., 1991 | JP. |